To coincide with the Pasifika Festival 2010, the “Pasifika: The Collection” CD will be released on 8 March (by Dawn Raid Entertainment and Universal Music). The double CD features all 40 timeless hits from the South Pacific including “Happy Happy Tonga” by Ms Angela Palatavake Afeaki and ‘Crush on you’ by The Jets. The Tongan musicians are featured alongside established musicians like Elvis Presley, OMC, Nesian Mystik, Herbs, Tiki Taane and Savage and fresh new talent like J. Williams, Smashproof and Spacifix.

Ms Afeaki’s single “Happy Happy Tonga”, first released on an album titled “Tongan Rendezvous” in 2009, perfectly encapsulates the celebratory nature of the Pacific Islands, combined with an irresistible rhythm guaranteed to fill every dancefloor. “Tongan Rendezvous” CD marked Ms Afeaki’s landmark recording (made at Stebbing Recording Centre) of original and traditional Tongan melodies, celebrating Tongan culture while fusing elements of traditional Pacific Island music with modern 21st century production sensibilities.

Ms Afeaki is not only a singer-songwriter but is also the Tonga Visitors Bureau’s very own NZ Marketing Representative. Ms Afeaki said “I’m very humbled to be on the Pasifika CD, alongside fellow Tongan superstars The Jet’s with their US Billboard hit ‘Crush on you’ and Tau Manukiafrom the popular band Spacifix and their smash hit ‘Sunshine Day’. I’m also excited that I’ve got this opportunity to promote my Island Kingdom.”

Pasifika Festival Director Ole Maiava says “Pasifika Festival is honoured to be associated with this great line-up of artists that acknowledges all those that have gone before us and enables us
to walk tall as people of the pacific, united under one cause to celebrate who we are.”

The collection marks the first time a number of rare Polynesian classic tunes (previously unavailable in New Zealand) will be released on one CD, including pacific legends Zipso with ‘Fika Mai Le Pese, Brother Love with ‘Roimata (Have You Ever Loved A Woman)’ & Mr Tee ft. Ben Vai with ‘Popole Ia Oe’.

Pasifka: The Collection is the brainchild of platinum producers and co-founders of Dawn Raid Entertainment, Brotha D and Andy Murnane. Speaking about the project, Brotha D said “This compilation is the first time on one album that we’re celebrating the finest in contemporary and traditional Polynesian music. It is a reminder of how far we’ve come as a people and it recognises the influence Pacific music has had on [those] growing up in New Zealand surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. As Kiwi’s, we all have a piece of Pasifika in our heart and this is the soundtrack”.?